Super Rugby Pacific, Semifinals - Teams and Predictions

PREVIEW: Blues head coach Vern Cotter has made several changes for his side’s Super Rugby Pacific semifinal showdown with the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.

Beauden Barrett returns to start at fullback, while Hoskins Sotutu joins the starting XV at No.8 and Finlay Christie slots in at scrumhalf.

In the midfield, Xavi Taele has been named at inside centre with AJ Lam shifting back to centre and Cole Forbes on the right wing.

The Blues will be without three players from last week’s team, with Zarn Sullivan ruled out with a foot injury, Sam Nock sidelined with a broken hand, and Malachi Wrampling unavailable through concussion and suspension.

Cotter said his side was excited by the opportunity ahead of them.

“We know what’s waiting for us in Wellington and we’re excited about the challenge. Finals rugby is about embracing that and earning the right to keep your season alive,” he said.

“The Hurricanes have been the competition’s most consistent team and they will be tough to beat at home, but we’ve prepared well and are looking forward to the contest.

“This group has shown resilience all season. We’ve had plenty of injuries and challenges, but the players continue to stay in the fight.”

Following last week’s Qualifying Final win over the Brumbies, a largely familiar Hurricanes matchday squad has been named for the encounter in Wellington.

An unchanged forward pack sees Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, and Pasilio Tosi all retained in the front row, while Warner Dearns and Caleb Delany pack down in the second row.

Two milestones headline the loose forwards, where blindside flanker Brad Shields will overtake Dane Coles as the third-most capped Hurricanes player in his 142nd match for the club, and No.8 Peter Lakai becomes the seventh player to reach 50 Hurricanes caps this season. Co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi rounds out the back row.

Cam Roigard and Ruben Love resume their halves pairing at scrumhalf and flyhalf, respectively, as do co-captain Jordie Barrett and centre Billy Proctor in the midfield.

The only alteration in the starting side comes on the left wing, where Fehi Fineanganofo completes his return from injury. He joins right wing Josh Moorby and fullback Callum Harkin in the outside backs.

“It’s a bonus being able to pick a really consistent team where a couple of guys who have been injured are coming back in,” Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said.

“We feel grateful for that, and we’re hugely excited to welcome the Blues here on Saturday night. We’re expecting a very tough semifinal. At this time of the year, the four best teams are left, so the team has prepared with the intensity that this game deserves.

“We can’t wait to play at home, hopefully in front of a big crowd of vocal supporters who fill the tin to help get us home.”

*Damian McKenzie, who will be playing his 150th Super Rugby match, will start in a settled Chiefs side on Friday in a semi against the Blues.

With the injury to Wallace Sititi and a concussion to centre Kyle Brown forcing two changes, Lalakai Foketi will start at centre and Samipeni Finau comes into blindside flanker, with Simon Parker moving to No.8.

A fit again Liam Coombes-Fabling will start at fullback after he withdrew before kick-off against the Reds last Saturday, and All Blacks wing Leroy Carter has again been named on the bench after he failed a fitness test last week.

Kyren Taumoefolau, who starts on the left wing, has been directly involved in six tries in the last four matches, scoring four times and assisting twice.

The preview continues below…

“We are extremely excited for this match and ready to rip in. We know what to expect and we know what we need to do to win,” said McKenzie

McKenzie said playing the Crusaders in his milestone match would be “tough to beat”, but the focus was on the team performing well, not any personal accolades.

“We have been working really hard throughout the year to put ourselves into play-off contention and to play my 150th against the Crusaders in the semifinal is special.

“We are extremely excited for this match and ready to rip in. We know what to expect and we know what we need to do to win.”

Meanwhile, for the Crusaders, there is a welcome boost up front this week with Fletcher Newell returning from injury, slotting back into the starting front row alongside Codie Taylor and Finlay Brewis.

After a minor MCL issue just weeks ago, Newell says he’s ready to go.

“I’m feeling really good, really confident in how the last week’s gone around my knee, and really excited to get back in the team. It’s going to be an awesome fixture this week,” Newell says.

In the backs, Braydon Ennor comes into the starting line-up at centre, bringing his composure and physicality to the midfield alongside captain David Havili.

Head coach Rob Penney has full confidence in the change, with Ennor stepping in for the unavailable Dallas McLeod.

“He’s world-class and brings some different elements, but he’s equally impressive on both sides of the ball. You lose one, bring another in, and it’s hopefully pretty seamless,” he says.

Out wide, the finishing power and experience of Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki and Johnny McNicholl will be crucial, with all three capable of breaking a game open.

McNicholl says he’s comfortable stepping into a bigger role, drawing on years of experience at the top level.

“I’ve been through a lot in my career, so I feel like I’ve had plenty of scenarios that I can draw back on and put into a semi-final like this,” McNicholl says.

“It’s my turn to go out there and do the job.”

See below for the teams and predictions!

The Crusaders captain who can do no wrong, David Havili 🤩

How big of a role will he play in the Crusaders Semi-Final against the Chiefs this Friday night?#SRP30 #SuperRugbyPacific #SRPFinals pic.twitter.com/iJraRVfZJt

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 9, 2026

Friday, June 12:

Chiefs v Crusaders
(FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton – Kick-off: 19.05 NZST; 07.05 GMT)

Prediction

Rugby365: Chiefs by seven points.

Teams:

Chiefs: 15 Isaac Hutchinson, 14 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Sione Ahio, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 George Dyer, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Leroy Carter.

Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Finlay Brewis.
Replacements: 16 Manumau Letiu, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 George Bower, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Macca Springer.

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper

Saturday, June 13:

Hurricanes v Blues
(Hnry Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 19.05; 07.05 GMT)

Prediction

Rugby365: Hurricanes by 18 points.

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (captain), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ere Enari, 22 Jone Rova, 23 Kini Naholo.

Blues: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 Eli Oudenryn, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Che Clark, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Pita Ahki, 23 Payton Spencer.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referee: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly